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Friday, July 31, 2015

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About The Book:

Can one night lead to forever?

Kassidy Monroe has spent far too many nights alone. But could she actually go through with a one-night stand? No! At least, that’s her answer until her eyes settle on him—tall, dark, and ultra-mysterious behind a black and platinum mask that makes him even more appealing. It’s lust at first sight, but how far is she willing to go with a man she’s just met? Jaxon Prescott has always gone after what he wants. And he wants her—the sexy vixen in the feather mask. Something about her calls to him, and he’s all too willing to answer. An invitation to his hotel suite was supposed to be for a night she wouldn’t soon forget, but somehow the tables turn. He never imagines he’d be the one constantly reliving their time together. One need. One night. One unforeseen outcome.

Joy Avery is a contemporary romance author who loves watching her imaginary friends fall in love. When not crafting her next love story, she enjoys reading, spending time with the family, playing with her two dogs, and cake decorating.

She’s the author of the novels Smoke in the Citi, His Until Sunrise (book 1 in the Indigo Falls series), Cupid’s Error-a Valentine’s novella, and His Ultimate Desire (book 2 in the Indigo Falls series).

She’s fire and he’s Ice, both demanding and both used to getting their way. Put them together and there is one hell of a storm. Two souls drawn together by an unexplainable force, their chemistry is off the charts it sizzles. Some say what they do best is fight, but they know what they do best isn’t in the fight, but the makeup sex that comes after.Jealousy and impulsive decisions find Abbee now answering to Mrs. Blue. Can the newlyweds find a way to tame themselves and each other long enough to truly allow love to flourish? Or will a jealous ex and pride be too much to handle? Will they be able to stop fighting with each other long enough to fight for each other? Follow along as Abbee Burkhart and Justice Blue find out why everyone says love is worth fighting for.

The sun streamed into my bedroom through my window and it felt like it was beating down on my nose and bronzing my skin. I would never get used to the Vegas heat. But this morning it felt so much hotter than just the sun. It was like the thermostat was turned up to 100 degrees. I was roasting hot but in a good way. I felt a thin sheen of sweat layered on the back of my neck and across my upper brow. Then I suddenly realized it was because I wasn’t alone. So not alone.

The thing is I didn’t remember being out with my boyfriend Jensen last night so I should be

alone. At least one would think. Keeping my eyes screwed shut, I tried to take in my surroundings. The room smelled of sex. Dirty, just like I liked it. But, again, my memory of Jensen from last night just didn’texist.

I didn’t want to open my eyes for the fear in my belly of what I might find. Oddly, I felt a

presence in my front and at my back. Which was a little alarming. Then it hit me. The air rushed out of me and my breathing grew unsteady. Fuck. Fuckity fuck fuck. The memories flooded my head like a typhoon. Shit. What had I done? I was a bad girl and knew exactly what I had done. Although it was very wrong of me to cheat on Jensen, I couldn’t deny that I didn’t like it. Guilt overcame me and my lips turned down into a frown. Damn, I couldn’t be trusted.

It was time to quit playing hide-and-seek with myself. I needed to open my eyes and face what would lay ahead of me. It wouldn’t be a surprise that I would like what I would find. Memories of hot bodies and sweat clad skin sliding against each other filled my mind. I had never had a threesome before. Until last night, that is. I had always wanted to, it was actually written in bold red ink on my bucket list along with a million other wild and crazy things I wanted to do before I died. Guess I can check that one off. I felt a shift to my front and I slowly, ever so slightly, cracked one eye open and got a glimpse and then closed it quickly again. Justice. A smile begged to peek out while my brain screamed at me.

Shit.

Shit.

Shit.

Putting on a brave face and fighting with the butterflies in my stomach, I opened the same eye again and then the other. What I found staring back at me were beautiful blue eyes the color of the clearest ocean or blue sky. He had the goofiest lopsided smile on his face. He took his hand and tenderly rubbed it along my jaw and then brought his lips to mine. I pulled away from him and shook my head with a big fat no. First, I had morning breath. Second, no matter what we did last night, I still had a boyfriend and I could no longer blame anything on the massive amounts of alcohol in my system. He backed off immediately and his lips turned down. I knew I had upset him but I couldn’t worry about that right now. I had to get out of there, out from under his spectacular gaze. Jenson hadn’t done anything to deserve this from me. Guilt racked my chest and it was all I could do to not look Justice in the eyes.

Then I felt hands slip around me from behind and they landed on my waist. Out of nowhere a deep growl rumbled from Justice’s chest and I looked at those blue eyes to see fury marred his face. My stomach dipped again because although I was an independent chick, I kinda liked the idea of someone being possessive over me. I really liked it a lot. I thought it was sexy as hell when a man was that crazy about his woman. I knew from being around him and what Damien and Sydney said that Justice was pure raw Alpha male. He was one of a kind. Bossy, just like I liked.

He shook his head slightly and took a deep breath in, and just like that, his eyes returned to the sexy lust filled depths they had been just moments before.

Then he spoke. “Good morning, Abbee.” His voice was deep and rich and I felt it all the way

down in my southern regions; my pussy grew a little wet and my nipples started to get hard. I also felt something very hard and oh so familiar poking my belly. Damn, I didn’t remember it being so big last night. But it was big. It felt delicious so close to me. What I wouldn’t give to get on him right now and ride him reverse cowgirl. Now that would be fucking hot. Last night was fun. He fucked me six ways from Sunday while I sucked off his brother. I got a little hand action from Reeve at one point too; man do those hands know how to work it. Those boys definitely inherited the big dick gene because neither were lacking. Not that I was taking measurements. Gah, who am I kidding, I was so doing an inspection of the

male variety.

“Seriously, the name is Bee. That is what I go by; please try to use it.” My tone was clipped and my eyes narrowed. The only people who called me Abbee were my parents and even that irritated me. I liked Bee. He cocked an eyebrow at me and I just stared at him, trying to punctuate my point. You didn’t mess with Bee Berkhart. Not in the slightest.

I felt the hands that were around my waist loosen a little bit and then felt a kiss being placed

behind my ear. I shivered from head to toe and the hair on my body stood up. It was soft and very sweet. Then there was that damn growl again and this time I had to laugh. He did sound sexy as hell when he growled and I couldn’t help but love it.

“You two are cracking me up. Justice, you need to chill the hell out. Reeve, enough of the kisses.” He just looked at me, trying to soften his features, but I saw the look in his eyes. It was a look of possession. Like he wanted to own me. And there was the tiniest little part of me that wanted to be owned by him. That is if I didn’t have a boyfriend. Fuck, fuck, shit, shit. I was the world’s worst girlfriend and clearly wasn’t as committed as I thought.

“But, baby, you are mine,” he said to me and then gave me a lopsided smile.

I had to laugh, like full on belly laugh. “Sorry, but first of all I have a boyfriend. Hate to break it to you boys and second, I’m not anyone’s. I’m my own person.” I wanted to remove their hands from me but it just felt so damn good being in our little sexual cocoon. I was lying to myself and them by saying I had a boyfriend. I wasn’t being true to him, not in the slightest, and I was enjoying the compromising position I was in. I was seriously going to hell.

“Last night when I had my cock deep inside of you, you said you were mine.” Damn it. Why did he have to remember that? Don’t you drink alcohol for a reason? I remember those damn shots going down so easily and all the cocktails we consumed. I was lucky I wasn’t bent over the toilet this morning.

“The hell she did Justice. I think you were hearing her say that she was mine. Come by the

hospital and I’ll check your ears for a blockage.” I had to laugh again. If anyone could see us and hear this conversation they would think they just stepped into an HBO comedy special.

“The hell she didn’t. You didn’t even have sex with her so I don’t know what you are even talking about.” Damn men, they were so clearly confused. Or were they? I think Reeve was just trying to get a rise out of Justice which was pretty great. I loved seeing him get his boxers in a twist.

“Dude, you’re the one that didn’t have sex with her. She and I did the deed all night long.” Justice growled again and then pushed Reeve’s hands away from me.

Justice wasn’t really wild about the idea of including Reeve, but it did happen. Thank goodness the alcohol had loosened him up because right now he was being a bear to deal with. I know I’m supposed to be moving in with Jenson but last night I flirted my ass off with both Justice and Reeve. And it ended better than I could have hoped for. With both brothers naked in my bed.

Justice was just so sexy and irresistible. It was the way he walked and carried himself with

confidence that was really a turn on. Not to mention I personally thought he was the best looking brother of the Blue bunch. Sure they were all gorgeous, but there was just something unique about Justice. Plus, I was always a sucker for a man in uniform. Every time he had come over to spend time with his brother Damien (my best friend Sydney’s now fiancé) my mouth went a little dry and my heart sped up a little faster and it might have skipped a beat. He was the full enchilada. So damn sexy. But last night at the bar when it was just the two of us talking I had seen a softer side to him that I really liked. It was evident that he wanted to know me better and had really focused on listening to me. Many times I would talk to

Jensen and feel like he wasn’t even listening to anything I had to say. It totally pissed me off but I swept it under the carpet trying not to acknowledge the obvious.

Reeve was a bit more uppity for me. I worked in the hospital so I was familiar with how some of the doctor’s would treat us nurses. Now I hadn’t worked with Reeve. He actually had a reputation of being one of the nice doctor’s but he just wasn’t my taste. At least for more than a single sex filled night. I preferred more of the blue collared kind of guy and Justice was pure, raw, male, blue collar. I wish we had gotten out his cuffs and played last night. Now that would have been something else to check off my bucket list. The things I could do with this man were endless. Gah. What was I saying? I was in a relationship and supposed to be happy. But was I really happy? I had to ask myself that. If I allowed myself to have sex with another man, not just one, but two, was I really satisfied with the man I was with?

The answer was no. I was just happy with the idea of having someone in my life. Damien and

Sydney had one another and I saw how their faces would light up when one of them got home from work or just sometimes it was the simple silence of them snuggling on the couch. I wanted that kind of special for myself. But who was I fooling? Jensen wasn’t that guy. The bad part about it is that I had already agreed to move in with him. When I gave someone my word I always followed through with it. So like it or not, despite my curiosity and slight feelings for Justice, I would be spending my time with Jensen. My stomach sank at the thought. I had signed up for a life that I didn’t know I could live, especially after spending a night with Justice. He treated me like I wanted to be treated and we just clicked. Like really

clicked. We got along really well.

“What the fuck, dude? Not cool.” Reeve slid his hands back around my belly again and Justice removed them again.

“Seriously, you two need to knock it the hell off. It was fun, it was. But I’m not with anyone other than my boyfriend. Yes, that may make me sound like the biggest ho in the world and like a total tramp but last night was just fun.” I looked at Justice and then looked over at my shoulder at Reeve. I took a deep breath. “The thing is I didn’t tell either of you that I was yours. So you two need to get over it.” I was telling baldfaced lies to these men and I prayed that they didn’t see right through me. I had told Justice I was his. And in so many ways, even if I had only spent one night with him, I did want to be his.

“Get over it?” Justice’s eyes blazed with heat. He looked over my shoulder at Reeve. “Reeve, you know I don’t share. Last night was a rare one-time thing for me. Abbee is mine. So you better back the hell off.” Damn he was going all Alpha male on me.

I had had enough. I untangled myself from both of them and sat up. “Okay, boys, I think this little slumber party is over.” My room was in shambles. My bedding was all over the place and I was sure if I looked over the side of the bed I would see condom wrappers. And not just one. My body heated from the thought. What an amazing night. One that I would never forget.

“It wouldn’t be over if Justice shared. You know, Justice, you never shared even as a child. What the hell is wrong with you?” Great, now the brothers were going to end up in a fight over me in my bedroom. Shit, in my bedroom. What was Sydney going to say? I knew Damien would more than likely pat his brothers on the back and give them a high five but Sydney couldn’t know about this–– or could she? She would probably beg me to leave Jensen and go for Justice. Which wasn’t a bad idea. Gah, what was I thinking, it was a horrible idea. I had already planned to live with Jensen. That would be my life. But there was something that kept on pulling me, like an unexplainable force, to Justice. Last night when we were at the bar I felt like he really paid attention to me and got me. He was very interested in what I had to say and treated me with kindness and respect. Sometimes I have to question whether Jensen respects me. He can flat out be mean when he wants to be.

I brought myself back to the situation and listened to them bickering at one another. I could see this going into a full on fight with them rolling on the ground wrestling and blood being spilled. Fuck my life. I had sure made a big mess out of things. The numbers on my clock glowed bright. 8:30. It was early…but not so early I could sneak the guys out. I placed my hands on my temples squeezing my eyes shut and rubbing them gently. I really needed to figure out a way to get the hell out of this situation.

“Fucker, I do share just not my women.” Justice growled again.

“For the last time, Justice, I’m not your woman.” It was my turn to growl back. I was getting

pissed. I wasn’t being a firecracker, I was a fucking stick of dynamite and I felt my face start to heat. When I got mad you better watch out. I would say I had a semi short fuse when it came to bullshit before I would just lose my shit on you. Sydney and I had gotten into it a few times over stupid nonsense but in the end we loved one another like sisters. Jensen hadn’t seen that side of me yet. I felt like I could never truly show the person I was to him. I usually always walked a fine line between what I wanted to be and what I needed to be. It was tough.

I heard my phone go off beside my bed on the night stand. It was the familiar beep I had set

especially for when Jensen would text. Fuck. Fuck. Shit.

“Um, Justice, sunshine, could you please hand me my phone?” He rolled over and reached for my phone handing it to me and then he sat up. I unlocked the screen with a manicured finger and read the message from Jenson. My stomach dropped and I felt light headed yet drowning in guilt.

Jensen: Hey baby missed you last night. I’ll be over to pick you up in twenty minutes we are going out to breakfast.

Fuck.

Shit.

Fuck.

What the hell was I going to do? Not only was I butt naked in my bed with two guys that were fighting, but Sydney and Damien would surely see them leave and then Jensen come over. They would think our house had turned into a brothel. With deft fingers I typed out a reply.

Me: This morning isn’t good for me. I’m actually not feeling very well.

That would buy me some time. I would get them out of the house and then maybe I wouldn’t see Jensen until tonight when I could wash the smell of sex from my body and paint on a different face. And that was what I was doing when I was with him. I wore a mask to try and be the perfect girlfriend. The girlfriend that I knew he wanted.

My phone chimed again.

“For the love of God could someone just make this nightmare stop.” I looked at the text again. Yup, wasn’t getting out of this situation very easily.

Jensen: Be there in twenty better get your ass up and ready. You can be sick later.

He really wasn’t the nicest guy. I felt my stomach drop. How did I ever end up with him? The

thing was I knew there were better guys out there. The way Justice treated me was a good example of that. Reeve had been so sweet and gentle as well. It was obvious they were raised right. I had met their parents and they were good people. Sydney spoke highly of them. I knew in my heart I should be with someone more like them.

I felt a presence over my shoulder and then I heard a growl again.

“He’s coming over here now?” Justice asked.

“Damn you. Quit reading my texts will you? Nosey.” I shoved him with an elbow into his gut and I felt a whisper of breath hit my back. I had packed a little mustard into it.

I climbed off the bed and went around to Reeve’s side. He was still lying down just staring at

nothing; probably looking at the ceiling, if I had to guess. His eyes met mine and he smiled. I looked down at myself and realized why. I wasn’t wearing a stitch of clothing. I was butt naked standing before Reeve while he assessed me.

I wasn’t shy about my body. Unlike most women who were modest and self-conscious, I loved my body. Justice and Reeve had been over so much to hang out at the house that I was used to them so there was a comfort there. But he didn’t have to gawk at me. I didn’t have time to worry about him looking at me like he wanted to devour me. I needed to get his ass up and out.

Rolling my eyes at him, I reached down, took his hand in mine and used all my strength to get him up. I wasn’t exactly big so I had to put all my muscles into it. “Alright, Reeve, time to get up and get out. Up you go.” But when I pulled on him he pulled harder, causing me to fall on top of him. My breasts hit his face and I felt him bite my nipple. I quickly jumped off of him but his hand lingered. I slapped it away.

“Stop, now up you go.” But I won’t lie, that little nipple bite made my pussy tingle a little and my nipples grow hard.

“Oh alright. I need to get to the hospital anyway.” Great, one down, one to go. Now I know it

won’t be this easy to get Justice out of here. I had a feeling I was in for the fight of my life.

I quickly made it to the other side of the bed and grabbed Justice by the hand, but when I pulled he did the same thing–– he pulled me down on top of him. Our faces were mere inches apart and my eyes flickered up to his, holding his gaze. I gasped. Being so close to him set my body on fire. I felt it deep in my belly. This man could be my complete and utter undoing. There were so many things I wanted to say. I wanted to tell him to stay and that I wanted to get to know him better. I wanted him to continue to be possessive with me. But most of all I wanted to slip under the covers with him and have my wicked way with him without Reeve. He had been amazing last night and I wanted to experience that again. But I

couldn’t. I was now in the biggest pickle of my life. I was post threesome with two naked men in my bedroom and my boyfriend was going to be here in less than twenty minutes.

I quickly broke eye contact with him. I looked over my shoulder to see Reeve was just slipping on his shirt and already had on his jeans. I thanked God. I turned back to Justice. “Alright you need to get your ass up and leave,” I said rather sternly. If I was going to have any luck I needed to give it to him straight and stay firm.

He just looked at me and then kissed me tenderly on the tip of my nose. I inhaled deeply and felt shivers course down my spine. What he did to me. He was like my own personal aphrodisiac. I was heady with his scent and feeling him all around me as our bodies pressed into one another. I looked to the clock and knew I had to get my shit together. I quickly rolled off of him and this time I grabbed him by the leg.

“Justice, I’m serious, you need to get the hell up.” This time he rolled over and sat up on the edge of the bed. He just sat there staring at me.

“Quit looking at me like that.” Damn the way he was looking at me made my entire body spasm.

“How exactly am I looking at you, Abbee?” He smiled at me, still not removing his eyes from

me. It was like he was seeing inside my soul. Like he knew that I really didn’t want him to leave. It was like he had all of the answers to all of my problems, even the ones I didn’t know I had.

“It’s Bee and you need to get up and get dressed like your brother is. Please and thank you.” I left him sitting there and walked over to my dresser and got a pair of panties out, and then leaned down and pulled open a drawer to get a pair of shorts out. But when I leaned down I felt him at my back his warm cock pressing firmly against me. It took everything in my power not to throw him back down on the bed. I tore myself away from him and went and stood on the other side of the room.

“This, you and me.” I pointed to him. “It’s over. It was one night full of fun. Now it is time for

you to leave.” I huffed out an exasperated breath.

“I’m not leaving. Reeve, suit yourself.”

Reeve walked to me, gave me a hug, and kissed me on the cheek.

“Thanks, Bee, I’ll see you soon.” He opened the door and exited and I prayed he would go

unnoticed by my roommates. I would have a lot of explaining to do. Oh, who was I fooling? The more I thought about it the more I couldn’t wait to tell Sydney. She was going to die, but in a good way. I admired Reeve in the way he was a nice guy and followed my instructions. This is the way things were supposed to go down and apparently he had gotten the memo, but Justice was another story. I took my hands and placed them on my hips and gave him a glare.

“Justice, you have 2.5 seconds to get your ass dressed and out of my room or I’m going to go get Damien and have him remove you.” That was totally an empty threat. I wasn’t going to go get Damien. Plus with the way Justice was built, all fine lines and hard muscles, he could clearly take Damien. He had the perfect body. One that I wanted to lick all over.

He just smirked at me. Fucker. “I’ll get dressed but I’m not going anywhere. I told you, you are mine. When your boyfriend gets here I’m telling him to get lost.”

I huffed out a breath again. I could feel my face heat up as I clenched my fingers into my palms and rolled my head around. I was tight. “Justice, get your shit on and get out.”

“Why the hell are you acting all bitchy to me?” He bent over and grabbed his shirt. Thank God he was finally getting the message.

“I’m not. I just can’t have you here when Jensen gets here.” Damn, I was running out of time and was really going to be cutting this one close. “And I’m not a bitch.”

“Then quit acting like one.” He bent down, picking up his jeans and shimmied them up his legs.

I walked over to my dresser and grabbed a shirt out and threw it on over myself, sans bra. At this rate I was doing good just to get clothes on before Jensen got here. Granted, I smelled like sex. I grabbed a bottle of perfume of my dresser and spritzed myself with it hoping it would help, but all I felt was hopeless at the moment. “Fuck my life, I smell like sex, Justice.”

“You smell perfect, like me.” He walked over and sniffed me. The thing is, I kinda liked his smell on my body. I sniffed one last time and deeply inhaled his scent.

Looking over my shoulder, I noticed Justice went back to getting ready and was slipping on his shoes. I wanted to do a happy dance I was so excited. Hopefully I would get myself out of this sticky-ass situation. He stood up from the bed and walked over to me he slipped his arms around me and brought his mouth to mine. I didn’t stop him this time. Despite my morning breath I kissed him back. I didn’t know if this would be the last time I had the opportunity and I didn’t want to regret it for the rest of my life.

He fisted his hand in my hair and I grabbed him behind his neck, holding on to him for dear life while he deepened our kiss. It was sweet, wet and full of so much emotion. I didn’t want to let him go. I wanted to stay wrapped up in his arms and brave Jensen together. I wanted to tell Jensen that I wasn’t his and that I was Justice’s like I had clearly told him last night. I wanted to be his. To be owned and possessed by him. But I couldn’t.

I was getting so lost in our kiss and thoughts of a life with Justice that I didn’t hear the door crack open.

THE RANCHER AND THE RENEGADE by Jackson D’Lynne is a thrilling, hot time-travel romance about a woman broken by tragedy, the sexy rancher determined to love her no matter what, and the evil they must destroy to survive. Readers will be captured by the story, enchanted by the romance, and thrilled by the edge of your seat suspense. If you like the flavor or Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series and the chills of thriller master, Dean Koontz, you’ll love Jackson D’Lynne’s latest offering.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Synopsis:She must triumph over her greatest tragedies to find her deepest love…When a heartbreaking tragedy rips undercover DEA agent Marisol Sanchez’s life apart she has nothing and no one left. With the cold steel of a Glock 21 in her mouth, she’s resigned to taking her own life. Before she can pull the trigger, a strange power interferes, compelling her to wind a mysterious golden pocket watch—a watch that propels her backward through time to 1856 Texas.Harvard lawyer turned cattle rancher Tyrence Barrett is in a battle he can’t win as desperadoes raid the settlements along the creek, burning and murdering their way through the land. On a routine inspection of his property, Ty stumbles upon a beautiful migrant woman who seems out of place, completely irresistible, and strangely compelling…

When evil threatens to destroy the ranch, Mari must use her wits and determination to help beat back the raiders who seek to clear the land and claim the water in the creek for themselves. With Ty by her side, Mari must learn to forgive herself, rely on the strength of others, and to love despite the overwhelming fear of loss.

Can a displaced renegade help a Lone Star rancher defend his home against an encroaching evil? Will the time lost Mari give in to the desperate sorrow devouring her heart? Or will Ty show her that a rancher and a renegade can find love and a happily ever after?

“Jackson has a distinctive voice and sweeps readers into her story.” – Diana Cosby, bestselling author of The Oath Trilogy

“Having read and loved The Diva and the Duke, I was looking really forward to reading the next in the series, and The Rancher and the Renegade did not disappoint! Another win from Jackson D'Lynne that kept me well entertained and turning the pages to find out what happened next.” – Nadine Mutas, author of Blood, Pain, and Pleasure

“Let me just say that this author knows how to spin a tale! I loved every moment of this book [The Diva and the Duke], from the first sentence to the last! It has paranormal, time travel, love and mystery...you just didn't know which turn led you where.” – Wendy, Eskimo Princess Reviews

“…Jackson blurs the line between historical and contemporary, suspense and romance, to capture it all in one storyline.” – Anabelle Bryant, author of the bestselling Three Regency Rogues trilogy

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Excerpt from The Rancher and the Renegade:She didn’t know how long she’d been unconscious but waking up in strange rooms was becoming a regular occurrence.Mari sat up and looked around; the room was simply decorated with a bed, a little table beside the door, and a cabinet containing small bottles and rolls of bandages.“I guess I’m in the medical clinic,” she croaked, her throat burning when the words squeezed by. She ran her fingers over her chin and down her neck to her collar bone. Her skin was tender to the touch and she knew without looking that bruises were forming.God, I almost died.“You can thank me for your survival.” Perez appeared before her, fully clothed and sporting a cocky expression.“How so?” She husked and threw her legs over the side of the bed. Her boot heels hit the floor and the vibrations awoke her other sore muscles, and they joined with a newborn headache to create a full body throb.She groaned.“Once I saw those men following you, I knew something was up. I sent Ty a mental nudge to go find you, and I put a pinch of urgency in it.”For the first time since arriving in 1856, Mari was grateful for Perez’s interference. If he hadn’t “nudged” Ty, she’d…Well, she’d probably be the one type of victim she swore she’d never become.Those men weren’t just hanging around town looking for someone to plunder, they’d come right for her. Someone sent them to find her, attack her, and deliver their message. Too bad those men hadn’t shared more than the littlest information about their boss: he was ruthless and he was interested in her for some reason. Mari couldn’t fathom why anyone would be interested in her. She’d only been there for eight days, and she hadn’t set foot off the ranch until that morning, so how did anyone know about her enough to become interested in her?Suspicion and wariness knit together in her gut.She rubbed her still sore throat and felt a pang of weariness. She didn’t want to believe that anothercomplication had arisen to give her the finger.“Who’s to say it isn’t Espada who’s shown a sudden and appalling interest in you? He did seem a little intrigued when you ran out into the fray at the ranch and kissed Ty like he was water and you were hella thirsty.” Perez’s laughing tone held a note of concern and wariness.Despite his flippant attitude, he seemed genuinely worried about her.Mari swore under her breath.Perez shouldn’t have to worry about her, he should be out, floating around, doing whatever it was he did to move his tasks along. The faster he completed his portion of their plan the sooner she could infiltrate La Rosa Negra’s hideout and put a bullet between Espada’s eyes.Cut the head off the snake, and the body died. Kill Espada and La Rosa Negra would fall apart, right? Dear God, she hoped so. Neither she nor Perez could think of another solution to rid Laredo of the scourge without innocent people getting hurt.No more innocents would die on her watch, not if there were something she could do to stop it.If Espada was the one behind her attack, what was his motive? What did he gain by attacking and threatening her? The better question was why had he turned his attention to her?Her gut told her there was more to the story of the attack than a man trying to make a point. There wasintent there she couldn’t put her finger on.Though she’d spent years training for her DEA assignment, she and her instincts had spent years together before that; her gut never steered her wrong and she was thankful for its forceful voice throughout her years of service with the undercover drug task force.Her instincts and the twinge in her gut had kept her alive more times than she could count.Too bad she hadn’t always listened to them.The sound of purposeful footsteps pounded in the clinic hallway right before the door to the room slammed open.Perez vanished only milliseconds before Ty appeared through the doorway.Mari gasped and stiffened at the sight of the man before her. Usually crowned with a halo of bright goodness and radiating a glow of laughter, Ty was a man of good-natured charm. The man who strode through the door wasn’t the man she knew—he was a wholly different creature…and her body immediately responded.Ty stalked toward her, his golden face a hard mask of anger, his countenance a blistering violent heat, and his body tightly wound, ready to uncoil and ensnare her in its trap.He stopped just short of where she stood in the middle of the now-too-small room, his jaw worked and his nostrils flared beneath blue eyes darkened with anger and something she refused to name.“When you first came into my life, there was something about you that told me you’d turn my life upside down. You confuse me, you twist me inside out, you enrage me, and you make me want things with you I’ve never wanted with anyone else. You’re a mystery, you’re a goddamn fire in my blood, and now you’re a danger to yourself.”Mari could only stare. What was he talking about? He wanted things with her? What things?She took a step back and opened her mouth to respond, but not before Ty silenced her with a punishingglare.“Marisol, what were you thinking taking a walk through town by yourself? I don’t know what life is like where you’re from but in Laredo, beautiful unmarried women are like fresh meat to a pack of coyotes. Of course you were attacked; this town is filled with men who wouldn’t think twice about raping and killing you.”He’d moved closer, his chest mere hairs’ breadth from her suddenly aching breasts, his lips only inches from her face. She could easily lean forward and brush her mouth against his. Would he recoil in surprise, sputter in anger, or devour her as she longed to be devoured?Keep your mind on the words, not the man, Mari, or else you’ll find yourself flat on your back in a country clinic. Her logical killjoy harped.“Don’t you care what happens to you? How did you end up in that creek? What happened? Did you walk blindly into an attack? Did you let someone rob you and leave you for dead?”Mari couldn’t hold her peace. “That’s not fair, and you damn well know it,” she exploded.When he flinched as if slapped, she paused, startled and confused by his actions.The alarming truth struck her hard, forcing the air from her lungs.Ty had burst into the room and rained anger and insults down on her head…in English.And she’d responded without thinking.His gaze raked over her expression and a humorless smile thinned his lips.“So, the senorita speaks English after all. What’s wrong? Couldn’t keep up the ruse?”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Other Books in The Three Goddesses Series:THE DIVA AND THE DUKEWhen a 21st century diva...Haven Edwards is a sensual, intelligent, 21st century diva with an "exotic" career. Wanting nothing more than to move past her ugly divorce, she attends an adults only Carnal-val where a strangely glowing pocket watch calls to her, compelling her to steal it. Overcome with its power, she winds it. A portal opens beneath her feet,and hurtles her back through time to 1817 where she crashes into the life of the very proper, very sexy, Logan Dunham. A duke with a deep distrust of beautiful women, Logan can't understand his staggering desire for the woman with the quick wit, and jade green eyes-the woman who haunted his dreams long before they met.

...meets a 19th century duke...

Haven is determined to find a way home, but she can't shake her hunger for the dark, brooding duke. Logan's a duke, he's out of her league, right? So why does her heart beat a little faster whenever he is near? Why does her mind conjure images of happily ever after?

...the sparks fly, tempers and passions flare, and two souls touch across time.

One touch, and they are consumed by their desire. But before they can untangle their feelings for one another, a sociopath with a god complex and a knife fetish sets his evil intents on Haven. In order to save her life, Logan must destroy the demons of his past, and learn to trust a power he doesn't understand. Can he get to her in time? Will the time-swept diva be lost forever, or will the diva get her duke?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~About Jackson D’Lynne:Amazon bestselling author Jackson D’Lynne is the alter-ego of a hardworking wife and mother of four, transplanted from California and now stuck in small town Pennsylvania. Always an avid reader, she’s been devouring books since middle school. Nowadays, when she’s not reading, she’s writing time travel romance, paranormal romance, and whatever else the Muse commands. Jackson loves hearing from her fans, so find her on Facebook and Twitter where you can keep up with what’s going on in her career.Connect with Jackson at her Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon